Good Growing

Our Gardenbite for this week goes back to 2021 where Ken and Katie answered all of Chris' sweet corn growing questions. Right now we are starting to see sweet corn getting ready to pick in Illinois. How do we know when sweet corn should be harvested? Plus, what about some common sweet corn pests that tend to show up in July like raccoons and corn earworms?Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.eduKen Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingSubscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribeAny products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.--You can find us on most podcast platforms.  iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377   Tunein https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR   Vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/   Listen notes https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/   Ivy https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902   Castbox https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us

Each year we at Good Growing decide to try growing some new (to us) vegetables. This year we want to invite you to grow along with us. This video is for those who signed up to receive seed for our Grow Along. In this video Emily, Ken, and Chris check in and share how this year's crops are doing in their gardens and our plans for culturing these plants through the summer. We want to hear back from you! You should have gotten an email with a survey link if you received Grow Along seed from us. Did you get your seed in the ground? What was the germination rate? (We are finding out that it's not so great for certain crops!) And more! Please use the survey link sent to you in the most recent email that included a link to this episode. We are treating this as a quasi-trial of these crops. So we are asking for some specific details on your growing conditions. If this year works out, we may make these "trials" more official. Got questions? Contact us at Chris Enroth cenroth@illinois.eduKen Johnson kjohnso@illinois.eduEmily Swihart eswihart@illinois.eduCheck out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingSubscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribeAny products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.--You can find us on most podcast platforms.  iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377   Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/show/good-growing   Tunein https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR   Vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/   Listen notes https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/   Ivy https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902   Castbox https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us

Milkweeds have become a popular garden plant in the last several years. They are most commonly planted to help support monarch butterflies because milkweeds are the sole food source for monarch caterpillars. If you’ve ever gone out to check your milkweed plants for monarch caterpillars, you may have been surprised to find other insects living and feeding on your milkweed plants. After all, milkweeds are toxic to other animals. However, some insects have evolved to be able to feed on milkweed and, like monarch caterpillars, have become milkweed specialists. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cLvl96PpqOg PhotosRed milkweed beetle"Red Milkweed Beetle - Tetraopes tetropht" (CC BY 2.0) by Judy GallagherRed milkweed beetle eyes - By Bruce Marlin, CC BY-SA 2.5, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=1514284 Swamp milkweed leaf beetleAdult – Thomas Irvine (CC BY 4.0), iNaturalistLarva – dbugs, Public Domain, iNaturalistMilkweed bugs – Ken Johnson, University of Illinois ExtensionMilkweed tussock mothNewly hatched caterpillars and damage - Erin Lalime (CC BY 4.0), iNaturalistOlder caterpillar - "255/366 Milkweed Tussock Moth - Euchaete" (CC BY 2.0) by Judy GallagherAdult moth - Dan MacNeal (CC BY 4.0), iNaturalistOleander aphids - Ken Johnson, University of Illinois Extension Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.eduKen Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu   Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingSubscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe  Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies. --You can find us on most podcast platforms.  iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377   Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/show/good-growing   Tunein https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR   Vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/   Listen notes https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/   Ivy https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902   Castbox https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us   Google podcasts https://bit.ly/3AiYjTD 

This week on the Good Growing podcast Ken and Chris answer early summer gardening questions. From landscapes and lawns to tomatoes and ticks, we share recent questions we have been getting into our local Extension offices. Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/CFPmxJvc_kkSkip to what you want to know:00:31 Hey Ken!01:12 It's a hot one out there for only being June.02:55 What is causing all the tips of my branches to fall off or hang in the tree?06:52 Can you take the protective netting off your trees and shrubs now that the cicadas are gone?08:35 What's wrong with my tomatoes!? Why are the leaves curling?15:38 How do you control weeds in an asparagus patch?19:12 My lawn is thin. What type of fertilizer should I put down now to have a better lawn?21:52 I have carpenter bees nesting in my barn. What can I do to stop them?24:35 Where can I get ticks tested to see if they are carrying a disease?Additional resources mentioned during the show:Causes of rolling wilted tomato leaves https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2018-06-20-causes-rolling-wilted-tomato-leaves Carpenter bees: Destroyers of wood or beneficial pollinators? https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2023-05-05-carpenter-bees-destroyers-wood-or-beneficial-pollinators CDC tick testing decisions https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/after-a-tick-bite/index.htmlContact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.eduKen Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingSubscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribeAny products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.--You can find us on most podcast platforms.  iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377   Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/show/good-growing   Tunein https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR   Vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/   Listen notes https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/   Ivy https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902   Castbox https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us

Have you ever gone on vacation only to come back to an out-of-control landscape or, even worse, dead plants? Check out this week’s Good Growing Podcast to learn about some steps we can take to get our landscapes ready for when we’re on vacation.  Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/JiC1RavU3kk  Skip to what you want to know:    00:30 – Welcome, Ken and Emily!  01:45 – What kind of gardens do we have?  04:30 – What should we be thinking about when planning our gardens and vacations?  08:27 – Getting plants water  11:22 – How can we prepare our potted plants?  14:05 – How does Emily ensure plants are getting water?  17:32 – How do you ‘train’ someone looking after your garden?  23:36  – What can we do about pests, diseases, and weeds before we leave?  27:10 – Vacation vs. leaving for a few months  28:30 – Getting your lawn ready   30:50 – Taking equipment in for maintenance while you’re gone  33:04 – Preparing houseplants for vacation  37:15 – Be careful of too much water  38:42 – Wrap-up, thank yous, what’s up next week, and goodbye!   How Should I Water My Plants blog post: https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2017-10-11-how-should-i-water-my-plants How to hand water your landscape plants Gardenbite: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUwhrFc0kkM   Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.eduKen Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Emily Swihart: eswihart@illinois.edu   Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingSubscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies. --You can find us on most podcast platforms.  iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377   Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/show/good-growing   Tunein https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR   Vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/   Listen notes https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/   Ivy https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902   Castbox https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us   Google podcasts https://bit.ly/3AiYjTD 

This week on the Good Growing podcast we bring you a short gardenbite explaining what causes blossom end rot and why throwing eggshells in the planting hole at the beginning of the growing season might not be doing anything to help. Nick Frillman talks about calcium, tomatoes, and the best advice to prevent blossom end rot.Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.eduKen Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingSubscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribeAny products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.--You can find us on most podcast platforms.  iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377   Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/show/good-growing   Tunein https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR   Vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/   Listen notes https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/   Ivy https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902   Castbox https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us

This week on the Good Growing podcast Ken and Chris chat with Erin Garrett about native grasses and how to use them in our landscapes. Erin is a Natural Resources, Energy, and Environment educator with University of Illinois Extension who is a wealth of knowledge on native grasses and all things native plants! We dive into how these grasses function in a prairie and how that translates to your yard. Plus suggestions for what native grasses might work best to transform your landscape!Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/EaFf5zziNiQSkip to what you want to know:0:31 Hey Ken! Remembering cicada pizza and growing sedges from seed.5:01 Welcome Erin! Superman Festival in Metropolis, Illinois. Cicadas are LOUD!8:43 The role of grasses in prairie.12:57 Are native grasses different from the ornamental grasses we plant in our yards?15:20  Seems like a lot of non-native lawn grasses are cool-season grass. Do we have any native cool-season grasses?16:53 What are the benefits of growing native grasses?19:12 Are there any drawbacks to using native plants in the landscape?22:16 What species of native grasses are recommended for the home landscape?28:03 When planting native grasses with flowers, does it help to plant the flowers first and then later the grasses? Plus talking seed ratios of grasses and forbs (wildflowers)30:13 Buffalograss is a native grass that grows low and is used for lawns in some areas. Is buffalograss a good lawn alternative in Illinois?34:21 Fun with nimblewill36:57 What tips does Erin have for creating backyard meadows or prairies?44:18 Where can people go to find out more information about native grasses?46:55 Thank yous and coming up next week.Illinois Extension Grasses Website https://extension.illinois.edu/grassesGrasses at a Glance Video Series https://go.illinois.edu/GrassVideosGrasses at a Glance blog https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/grasses-glanceSpotlight on Natural Resources Podcast https://extension.illinois.edu/podcasts/spotlight-natural-resourcesContact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.eduKen Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Erin Garrett emedvecz@illinois.eduCheck out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingSubscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribeAny products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.--You can find us on most podcast platforms.  iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377   Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/show/good-growing   Tunein https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR   Vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/   Listen notes https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/   Ivy https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902   Castbox https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us

Are you an adventurous eater or interested in eating insects? You’re in luck! Many places in Illinois are awash in periodical cicadas, and while we usually think of them as food for birds and small mammals, humans can eat them too. Check out this week’s Good Growing Podcast to learn how you can get in on the cicada-eating action. From Pesto Pizza to Cicada Sundaes, we’ve got you covered on how to collect, prepare, and enjoy periodical cicadas. Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/U_0K70ajACM  Skip to what you want to know:    00:35 – Welcome, Ken! We are excited about eating cicadas!  02:00 – Welcome, Kristin and Kacie!   03:07 – How to collect periodical cicadas for eating.  06:35 – Any considerations or things to look out for when collecting periodical cicadas for eating?  08:25 – Kristin, any hesitations, and how did you come up with the recipes?   11:00 – Periodical Pesto Pizz-zz-zz-za  13:02 – Eating the blanched cicadas, what did they taste like?  14:25 – More on the Periodical Pesto Pizz-zz-zz-za  15:05 – Battered Cicadas with Spicy Lime Aioli  17:37 – Cicada Sundae’s  18:45 – Roasting cicadas  20:02 – What we’re our favorite recipes?  24:02 – Are there any benefits to eating insects?  26:37 – Are periodical cicadas a practical food source? What insects are?  29:10 – Where are insects eaten around the world? Getting over the cultural stigma of eating insects.   34:10 – How would we rate the meal?     36:48 – Wrap-up, thank yous, what’s up next week, and goodbye!   Cicada recipes: https://go.illinois.edu/CicadaRecipes  Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.eduKen Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Kristin Bogdonas: kmbogdo@illinois.edu Kacie Athey: kathey@illinois.edu   Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingSubscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies. --You can find us on most podcast platforms.  iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377   Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/show/good-growing   Tunein https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR   Vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/   Listen notes https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/   Ivy https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902   Castbox https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us   Google podcasts https://bit.ly/3AiYjTD 

This week on the Good Growing podcast we learn about monarch butterfly science from a leading scientist in the field of monarch butterflies, Dr. Andy Davis from University of Georgia. We learn some hard truths and ask do the monarch butterflies really need to be saved? What roles should humans have in monarch butterfly protection? All this and more (like cicadas and Joro spiders) in this week’s Good Growing podcast. Plus check out Brodie Dunn’s newest podcast Voice of the Wild. Brodie plays us short clips of recorded wildlife sounds and talks about what we are hearing. Voice of the Wild covers mostly birds, but Brodie’s latest episode is about the American sycamore tree. https://extension.illinois.edu/podcasts/voice-wildDr. Davis’ blog https://www.monarchscience.org/Engage with monarch scientists on the Thoughtful Monarch Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/groups/565065511941624 Skip to what you want to know:0:35 Hey Ken! Latest cicada report. What's happening in Jacksonville?2:05 Brodie Dunn's new podcast, Voice of the Wild2:49 Welcome Dr. Andy Davis3:51 The Thoughtful Monarch Facebook page6:17 Andy's background8:15 Will we see fewer monarchs this summer in the US and Canada because of the low overwintering counts in Mexico?16:00 What about the possibility of monarch butterflies being listed as an endangered species?19:36 The problem with rearing monarchs.31:08 www.monarchscience.org32:15 The gap between science and the public.33:54 What about rearing monarchs in schools to teach kids about insects?38:57 What are some of the issues with growing tropical milkweed?46:20 What can people do if they stop rearing monarchs and planting tropical milkweed? How can they redirect their energy into something that may benefit monarch butterflies?48:18 Some interesting behavior of the non-native Joro spider and monarch butterflies.52:42 Once Joro spiders get to Illinois will they cause ecological havoc?Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.eduKen Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingSubscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribeAny products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.--You can find us on most podcast platforms.  iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377   Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/show/good-growing   Tunein https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR   Vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/   Listen notes https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/   Ivy https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902   Castbox https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us

This week on the Good Growing podcast Ken and Chris look at some common lawncare questions. What can you do about growing grass in the shade? Does crabgrass preventer go down when the forsythia bloom? And more!Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/ZM0sWiPKlTsSkip to what you want to know:0:50 Hey Ken! What's bocce ball?1:54 Weather and garden updates5:57 Good Growing Grow Along update. Seeds are on the way!6:44 Time to talk about lawns7:07 If you mow lower, does that mean you mow less often?8:28 How high should we mow our cool-season lawns?11:22 Can fertilizer help recover from mowing stress? But what exactly IS fertilizer to plants?12:41 The one-third rule of mowing.14:43 Why don't more people bag their clippings to reduce thatch?18:24 Should we apply our spring weed'n'feed when the forsythia blooms?24:31 How do I get grass to grow in the shade of a tree?24:31 I keep planting Kentucky 31 bluegrass, but it looks terrible. What do I need to do differently, to make it grow well?Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.eduKen Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingSubscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribeAny products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.--You can find us on most podcast platforms.  iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377   Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/show/good-growing   Tunein https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR   Vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/   Listen notes https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/   Ivy https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902   Castbox https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us

Do you want to grow your own fruit but have limited space? Growing fruit in a container may be the solution for you! On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we welcome back Bruce Black to talk about how we can grow fruit in containers, what fruit works best in containers, and more.  Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Khh6gbA5-yM Skip to what you want to know:    00:32 – Welcome, Ken! Update on Cicada Watch 2024.  02:30 – Welcome, Bruce! Sauk Valley Community College partnership and Gardening in the Air  07:35 – What are some advantages of growing fruit in containers?   10:28 – Can we plant ‘normal’ sized fruit plants in pots?  13:27 – Ballerina (columnar) apple trees  15:45 – What other fruits can we grow in containers?  18:14 – Container fruit cultivars     18:25 – Apples     20:37 – Blueberries and brambles (raspberries and blackberries)     24:55 – Strawberries and pineberries  27:30 – What type of container should we use? What are chilling hours?  31:15 – Where should we place our container fruit? Winter protection.  35:36 – What should we fill our pots with? Fertilizing, watering, and lowering pH for blueberries.   41:30 – Pest management for container fruits  43:40 – Final recommendations,  pollination, and resources    48:20 – Wrap-up, thank yous, what’s up next week, and goodbye!   Gardening in the Air: https://extension.illinois.edu/plants/gardening-air Container Gardening infosheet: https://extension.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/how_to_grow_fruits_vegetables_herbs_in_containers.pdf  Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.eduKen Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Bruce Black: brucejb@illinois.edu   Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingSubscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies. --You can find us on most podcast platforms.  iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377   Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/show/good-growing   Tunein https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR   Vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/   Listen notes https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/   Ivy https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902   Castbox https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us   Google podcasts https://bit.ly/3AiYjTD 

This week on the Good Growing Podcast Ken has to work hard to contain his excitement for the upcoming periodical cicada emergence. Meanwhile, Chris has been building defenses to protect his newly planted baby trees. What do you need to know about the upcoming emergence of periodical cicadas? While our established trees will be okay, Ken and Chris will talk about how to protect our smaller newly planted trees from cicada egg laying. Plus, everyone seems to highlight the potential damage to woody plants, but a periodical cicada emergence is truly a sight to behold. Ken tells us the benefits of having billions, if not trillions, of cicadas pop out of the ground.Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RADnUB7GXXISkip to what you want to know:0:35 Hey Ken! How's the garden coming along this spring?3:40 What's the difference between a periodical cicada and an annual cicada?7:40 When will it be peak cicada? Will it be earlier than expected with our mild winter?10:31 Does double brood emergence mean double the cicadas in one area?12:04 Do periodical cicadas occur in other places in the world?13:07 How many cicadas should we expect in a given area?15:39 Do cicadas eat anything after they emerge as adults? Is there anything we need to protect from them?17:09 Cicada egg-laying damages our trees.26:28 Is there any benefit to periodical cicadas?30:00 If all these animals can eat cicadas, can humans eat them too?Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.eduKen Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingSubscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribeAny products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.--You can find us on most podcast platforms.  iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377   Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/show/good-growing   Tunein https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR   Vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/   Listen notes https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/   Ivy https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902   Castbox https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us

Do you enjoy spending your evenings outdoors? On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we talk about how you can create a garden to be enjoyed at night. Learn about night-blooming plants that can be incorporated into a ‘night/moon’ garden, landscape lighting, insects that come out at night, and more!  Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/xWbZlTZbgPI  Skip to what you want to know:    00:28 – Welcome, Ken! Enjoying the unseasonably warm weather?  03:15 – Gardening by the moon, does it work?   06:55 – What are some plants can be grown for ‘night’ or ‘moon’ gardens?      07:52 – Flowering tobacco      08:40 – Dragon fruit and night-blooming cereus  09:36 – What is pollinating these flowers?   11:00 – More plants for the night      11:00 – Angel’s trumpet      14:35 – Evening-primrose (Oenothera )      16:38 – Four o’clock      18:10 – Caladium      18:46 – Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’      19:26 – Dusty miller      20:05 – Moonflower    23:46 – Incorporating landscape lighting  26:56 – Some drawbacks of lights at night  31:00 – Insects at night  34:18 – Wrap-up, thank yous, what’s up next week, and goodbye!  Talking Bats in Illinois with Dr. Joy O'Keefe: https://youtu.be/9fLLNtNHkpI  Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.eduKen Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu   Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingSubscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies. --You can find us on most podcast platforms.  iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377   Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/show/good-growing   Tunein https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR   Vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/   Listen notes https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/   Ivy https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902   Castbox https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us   Google podcasts https://bit.ly/3AiYjTD 

This week on the Good Growing Podcast we rewind back to when we sat down in person with Duane Friend to discuss pond management. For this Gardenbite episode, we look specifically at aerators in ponds, duckweed, and having taller vegetation around ponds and in the drainage channels leading into the pond. You can find the entire episode at the following link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gt4E6uke72E Watch this on YouTube https://youtu.be/SFNec6M8J-wSkip to what you want to know:1:20 Aerators in ponds. Do they work? What about aerating ponds during the winter?4:18 Can you prevent duckweed from returning to your pond year after year? 7:27 What about using vegetation to improve water quality for ponds?

Have you had problems with bagworms in your landscape? Bagworms are troublesome insects that can make evergreens and other plants rather unsightly. Learn about the lifecycle of bagworms and how we can manage them, including how planting flowers can help.Want to see pictures? Check out the YouTube version: https://youtu.be/kZNKiu-x7rk USA National Phenological Network: https://www.usanpn.org/data/maps/forecasts/bagwormConservation biological control in urban landscapes: Manipulating parasitoids of bagworm (Lepidoptera: Psychidae) with flowering forbs: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1049964405000733 Photo Credits:Bagworms on defoliated plant: "Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis" by Adam Kranz is marked with CC0 1.0.Bagworm eggs: "Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis" by askalotl is marked with CC0 1.0.Bagworm on broadleaf plant: "Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis" by Daniel Estabrooks is marked with CC0 1.0.Female bagworm moth: Lacy L. Hyche, Auburn University, Bugwood.orgMale bagworm moth: "Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis" by Chrissy McClarren and Andy Reago is marked with CC0 1.0.Bagworm moths mating: Jerry A. Payne, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.orgBagworm eggs: "Thyridopteryx ephemeraeformis" by Adam Kranz is marked with CC0 1.0.Parasitoid wasp: Gerald J. Lenhard, Louisiana State University, Bugwood.org Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.eduKen Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu   Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingSubscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies. --You can find us on most podcast platforms.  iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377   Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/show/good-growing   Tunein https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR   Vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/   Listen notes https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/   Ivy https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902   Castbox https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us   Google podcasts https://bit.ly/3AiYjTD 

This week on the Good Growing Podcast Ken and Chris talk about perennial vegetables that we can grow here in Illinois. Many of the preparation and care instructions match with each crop and we describe those during our first crop, asparagus! We also chat about rhubarb, artichoke, chives, and horseradish. Are there others? What perennial veggies do you grow?Learn more about growing veggies at our website: https://extension.illinois.edu/gardeningPrevious episode on growing horseradish: https://youtu.be/PXKp-MLkHAk Watch us on YouTube https://youtu.be/Q9PYXesCPXESkip to what you want to know:0:27 Hey Ken!4:14 Diving into perennial vegetables4:44 Asparagus - What do we like about asparagus? Smelly pee and astronauts.6:19 What do you get when you order asparagus? Seed vs. living crowns8:13 Preparing a site for planting asparagus.12:51 How to plant asparagus.14:04 When can you start harvesting asparagus?17:15 Should you cut or break the asparagus spears when harvesting?18:32 Weed control in asparagus (and pretty all other types of perennial vegetables)21:21 Asparagus fall color.21:57 Asparagus pests23:04 Asparagus cultivars24:57 Rhubarb27:07 Rhubarb care29:05 Should you remove the rhubarb flowers31:55 Can you eat rhubarb after a frost?34:07 Artichoke39:27 Chives40:56 Horseradish45:48 What perennial veggies did we miss? Thank you's and coming up next weekContact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.eduKen Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingSubscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribeAny products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.--You can find us on most podcast platforms.  iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377   Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/show/good-growing   Tunein https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR   Vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/   Listen notes https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/   Ivy https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902   Castbox https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us   Google podcasts https://bit.ly/3AiYjTD

Have you started your seeds yet? On this week’s Good Growing Podcast, we talk about how you can start your own seeds. Learn about the benefits of starting your own seeds, where to start them, the equipment you’ll need, how we can reduce the amount of plastic we use to start seeds, troubleshooting, and more!  Watch us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/lNCwDYkdS50  Skip to what you want to know:    00:28 – Welcome, Ken! Have we started our seeds?  01:50 – What are people searching for on social media when it comes to seed starting?  05:00 – Why would we want to start our own seed?  09:50 – Where should we start seeds?  14:55 – What materials will we need to start seeds?      15:10 – Containers     18:20 – Humidity domes?     19:55 – Fans?     21:30 – Heat mats?     24:00 – Lighting      31:00 – Growing media, peat, coconut coir, etc.  36:30 – Ways to reduce the amount of plastic in seed starting. Soil blockers, peat and paper pots, etc.  50:15 – Problems that arise with seed starting. Leggy plants, damping-off, fungus gnats, and algae  59:00 – Wrap-up, thank yous, what’s up next week, and goodbye!  When should I start my seeds?: https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2023-02-10-when-should-i-start-my-seeds   Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.eduKen Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu   Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingSubscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies. --You can find us on most podcast platforms.  iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377   Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/show/good-growing   Tunein https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR   Vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/   Listen notes https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/   Ivy https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902   Castbox https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us   Google podcasts https://bit.ly/3AiYjTD 

This week on the Good Growing podcast we chat with horticulture educator Emily Swihart about garden trends to be on the lookout for in 2024. We talk about the rise in popularity of incorporating native plants, trying to make our landscapes more biodiverse, and also just plain fun horticulture trends like colors and using our gardens at night. Skip to what you want to know:17:06 The trend of eco-optimism.18:44 The trend of native plants.20:40 The trend of densely planted landscape beds.24:41 Chris attempts to start a trend.25:25 The trend of improving our urban forests and putting a stop to the maple trend.29:17 The trend of environmental justice.32:19 The trend of the color of the year – chartreuse. 37:19 The trend of the gothic garden (dark colors).42:36 The trend of cemeteries as a park-like space for the public to gather.45:52 The trend of nighttime gardens. Night-flowering plants and night lighting.49:49 The trends we want to let go.54:58 Thank yous and coming up next week.Cicada Article https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2024-02-22-cicadas-are-coming-periodical-cicadas-illinois-2024Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.eduKen Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Emily Swihart: eswihart@illinois.eduCheck out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingSubscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribeAny products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.--You can find us on most podcast platforms.  iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377   Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/show/good-growing   Tunein https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR   Vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/   Listen notes https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/   Ivy https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902   Castbox https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us   Google podcasts https://bit.ly/3AiYjTD

Has the warm weather got you thinking about gardening, perhaps gardening for pollinators? Learn about how you can create a habitat for pollinators in your own landscape, from the types of plants, habitat for nesting and egg-laying, pest management, and more! Contact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.eduKen Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu   Check out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingSubscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribe Any products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies. --You can find us on most podcast platforms.  iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377   Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/show/good-growing   Tunein https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR   Vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/   Listen notes https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/   Ivy https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902   Castbox https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us   Google podcasts https://bit.ly/3AiYjTD 

This week we take a look at a clip from 2021 when the Good Growing team sat down with three horticulturists/landscape designers to learn about their favorite native plants. We asked each one to come up with their top three favorites. In this clip, retired Illinois Extension educator Martha Smith showcases her three favorite native plants that she has growing in her yard. Watch on YouTube https://youtu.be/58IDd070g-QSkip to what you want to know:1:22 American fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus) a.k.a White fringetree4:50 Black tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica) a.k.a. Blackgum8:17 Butterfly milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)11:57 Discussion on Martha's picks including:   -Butterfly milkweeds performance in hellstrips   -EAB on fringetree   -How the container size and shape can influence the success of planting butterfly milkweedSee this episode in its entirety which includes Layne's and Austin's favorite natives: https://youtu.be/UqvnZc_Y7rYContact us! Chris Enroth: cenroth@illinois.eduKen Johnson: kjohnso@illinois.edu Emily Swihart: eswihart@illinois.eduCheck out the Good Growing Blog: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingSubscribe to the weekly Good Growing email: https://go.illinois.edu/goodgrowingsubscribeAny products or companies mentioned during the podcast are in no way a promotion or endorsement of these products or companies.--You can find us on most podcast platforms.  iTunes https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/good-growing/id1446630377   Stitcher https://www.stitcher.com/show/good-growing   Tunein https://tunein.com/podcasts/Gardening/Good-Growing-p1187964/ Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/202u3siWExE1tTqrVgtmCR   Vurbl https://vurbl.com/station/good-growing-4pljnNlUtyG/   Listen notes https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/good-growing-chris-enroth-cHLPMWpvEOG/   Ivy https://ivy.fm/podcast/good-growing-167902   Castbox https://castbox.fm/channel/Good-Growing-id4302614?country=us   Google podcasts https://bit.ly/3AiYjTD